Review of Seven Seas Explorer

Launched in 2016, Seven Seas Explorer is currently the newest RSSC / Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship, with fleetmates Voyager, Navigator and Mariner. The vessel's building cost of USD 450 million ranks it the most expensive luxury cruise ship ever built. The sister-ship Splendor is scheduled launch in 2020.

History - construction and ownership

Regent Cruises (officially Regent Seven Seas Cruises / RSSC) is an all-inclusive, top-luxury cruise brand fka "Radisson Seven Seas". Until 2014, the company (as part of "Prestige Cruise Holdings") was owned by Apollo Management LP - one of the world's largest private investment equity funds. Since September 2014, RSSC and the sister company Oceania Cruises are owned by NCL Norwegian (shipowner), acquired at the total cost of USD 3 billion. Regent cruise ships are medium-sized, with capacity up to 800 passengers. The fleet consists of 6-star rated all-suite and all-balcony vessels with space-to-guest ratio around 70 and staff-to-guest ratio 1-to-1,6 (some of industry's best). As building cost per berth, RSSC liners are among the world's most expensive ships.

Seven Seas Explorer was delivered on June 30 by Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard. It is the first newbuild for Regent Seven Seas in 14 years and what the company touts as the most luxurious vessel ever built. Seven Seas Explorer's features include the opulent 3,875-sq.foot Regent Suite, several gourmet restaurants and extravagant lounges.

Cruise itinerary program

Seven Seas Explorer itinerary program is based on luxury Mediterranean cruises around Italy (Adriatic Sea), to French Riviera, and Holy Land (visiting Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt). The itineraries are one-way, with departures from ports in Italy, Spain, Monaco, Portugal, Greece, Turkey.

In 2019 (January through March) was scheduled ship's maiden season in South America. Following 2-year service in Mediterranean, Caribbean, Africa and Northern Europe, the liner will call at 10 South American cruise ports during 5 voyages with the following departures.

Cabins

Like all Regent cruise ships, Seven Seas Explorer is an all-suite ship. The number of suite categories is 16. Seven Seas Explorer has a total of 375 suites, of which 100% have private balconies. The largest ones are the Regent Suites (2915 ft2).

The cost of the Regent Suite on the new Explorer ship signifies the ultimate Regent cruise luxury package experience. For an amazing 3,875 sq-ft suite accommodation (1181 m2, with the balcony), guest can enjoy the superior pampering vacation travel that the Regent Cruises are world wide famous with. This accommodation is not only the largest, but also the most expensive one at sea – yours for just £4,800 per person, per day.

Culinary Arts Kitchen (cooking school with 18 cooking stations in 3 rows; each is equipped with quartz countertop and stainless steel sink; the cooking school has floor-ceiling windows, and boasts 12 different classes themed as fish and shellfish, food and wine, mini-desserts, healthy cooking, etc. As part of the program, Regent Seven Seas also offers “Gourmet Explorer Tours” ashore)

Pool Grill (fast food).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

While the design of Seven Seas Explorer is decidedly more contemporary luxe than that of ship's fleetmates, the line strikes a balance between its much-loved traditional features and a more modern ambiance.

Follows the complete list of Seven Seas Explorer lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

Constellation Theater (2-deck high main show lounge for grand music and show productions; also features “Cirque Rock ‘n Roll” aerial acrobatics spectacle)

This is a combo court serving 2 sports - Pickleball and Paddle Tennis.

Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, court tennis and table tennis. The game is played by 2, 3 or 4 players using solid paddles (made of wood or composites) to hit a perforated polymer ball over a net.

Seven Seas Explorer wiki

Regent Explorer ship was built in Trieste Italy as the line's fourth all-suite, all-balcony, top luxury vessel, joining the RSSC ships Mariner, Navigator and Voyager. She is also the line's largest ever built. The building price of almost US$450 million makes the ship the most expensive luxury passenger ship in the world, ever. The vessel features Carrara marble, huge quantities of gold leaf (used by the shipbuilder for onboard decorations), also Czech crystal chandeliers and hundreds of art pieces.

Fun fact is, that ship's largest suite (accommodating two guests only) is the biggest sized cruise accommodation at sea (at the whopping 3,875 ft2 / 1,180 m2) /equaling a townhouse's size). This suite is also the most expensive cruise room ever offered. Regent Suite's bed alone cost around USD 90,000. Per person prices are over GBP 3000, and these rates are per night. Among the suite's amenities are a custom-built Steinway grand piano and an in-suite spa room with unlimited complimentary spa treatments.

On September 2, 2014, NCL Norwegian purchased "Prestige Cruise Holdings" (owner of Oceania Cruises and RSSC) for USD 3,025 billion, thus becoming the official shipowner in both fleets.

On May 26, 2016, was announced the name of ship's godmother - HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco. On June 30, 2016, the vessel was officially delivered at Sestri Ponente shipyard. On July 13, 2016, was vessel's christening ceremony held in Monte Carlo (Monaco). The naming ceremony featured a 45-min live performance by Andrea Bocelli. The royal godmother was accompanied by her husband - Monaco's reigning monarch Prince Albert II. The christening ceremony was also attended by around 700 special guests, including all the RSSC company's top executives.

The company Apollo Group provides all RSSC ships with the entire onboard hotel product and services. This includes administration, food staff (preparation and serving), housekeeping staff, also the vessel's provisioning and crewing. Other cruise lines served by Apollo are Thomson UK (Marella) and Oceania.

Inaugural cruise itineraries

On July 20, 2016, was the inaugural cruise - 13-days Mediterranean itinerary from Monaco to Venice. Explorer is Regent Cruises' first new ship since 2003, when Seven Seas Voyager was launched. Explorer is followed by a fifth ship (Seven Seas Splendor) that enters service in 2020.

Seven Seas Explorer's inaugural cruise season was in Europe (Mediterranean Sea). Followed a Transatlantic crossing to PortMiami for the winter season in the Caribbean Sea. The inaugural Caribbean cruise was a 14-night roundtrip Miami to Serene Islands (December 4) followed by a 10-night Caribbean cruise (December 14) roundtrip from Miami. The New Year's Eve itinerary was a 16-night Panama Canal transition from Miami to Los Angeles CA. The ship returned to Florida on February 4 (2017) and was home-ported in Miami Florida for a total of 5 back-to-back cruises (10-night roundtrips) to Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Belize. Among the visited ports of call was the NCL private island in Belize Harvest Caye - an island destination developed by the parent company NCLH.

The Mediterranean Inaugural season was complemented by 22 "Gourmet Explorer Tours" (offered on all Mediterranean itineraries) designed to enhance the onboard dining experiences in the ship's Culinary Arts Kitchen.